Page 22 - Intra Muros September 2023

ESTATE EVENT

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

n 29 July, a group of Silver Lakes
residents met with birding guide
OLance Robinson at the Pretoria
National Botanical Garden. It comprises 76
hectares of beautiful indigenous gardens,
including a natural savannah grassland.
Both habitats host and attract a range of
birds – more than 150 species have been
sighted.

We took a leisurely walk through the
gardens lasting about three hours, just
enjoying and discussing birds.

Our bird walk began with the strident calls
of a Southern Boubou as we observed a
group of Tawny-flanked Prinia foraging in
nearby bushes.

We were also entertained by the antics of
the mousebirds, both speckled and red-
faced, in a large ficus tree. Surprisingly, a similar little brown job (LBJ), a Rattling
pair of Blue Waxbills and a normally skittish Cisticola. Although we only caught a brief
Brown-crowned Tchagra remained unfazed glimpse of the White-throated Robin-Chat,
by our presence. a Streaky-headed Seedeater was seen on
one of the flowering aloes.
Above us, a Black Sparrowhawk spiralled up
in a vortex, causing the local Grey Go-away- While we sat down for coffee and a light
birds (also known as the Grey Loeries) to lunch at the restaurant, the friendly house
cry out “go awaaay!” in alarm. We were sparrows were in attendance. We ended
able to compare a pair of Neddicky to a our morning having seen 40 species.

20 | INTRAMUROS SEPTEMBER 2023